Welcome to Gene Therapy Net
Gene Therapy Net is the web resource for patients and professionals interested in gene therapy. The objectives of Gene Therapy Net are to be the information resource for basic and clinical research in gene therapy, cell therapy, and genetic vaccines, and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to above areas. In addition, Gene Therapy Net provides an overview for sponsors and researchers of the different international regulations and guidelines associated with clinical gene therapy trials.
Avexis Receives FDA Approval For Zolgensma, First And Only Gene Therapy For Pediatric Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Posted on: 25 May 2019, source: Novartis
AveXis, a Novartis company, today announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) for the treatment of pediatric patients less than 2 years of age with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with bi-allelic mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Zolgensma is designed to address the genetic root cause of SMA by providing a functional copy of the human SMN gene to halt disease progression through sustained SMN protein expression with a single, one-time intravenous (IV) infusion. Zolgensma is the first and only gene therapy approved by the FDA for the treatment of SMA, including those who are pre-symptomatic at diagnosis.
AveXis, a Novartis company, today announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) for the treatment of pediatric patients less than 2 years of age with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with bi-allelic mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Zolgensma is designed to address the genetic root cause of SMA by providing a functional copy of the human SMN gene to halt disease progression through sustained SMN protein expression with a single, one-time intravenous (IV) infusion. Zolgensma is the first and only gene therapy approved by the FDA for the treatment of SMA, including those who are pre-symptomatic at diagnosis.
NIH Streamlines Gene Therapy Oversight and Charts a Course for Considering Emerging Technology
Posted on: 26 April 2019, source: NIH
In August 2018, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a joint proposal to streamline duplicative and burdensome oversight over gene therapy. As part of this effort and following public input, NIH today released the amended NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. The amendments remove the requirement to register and report on human gene therapy protocols under the NIH Guidelines to the NIH. Robust oversight continues under the FDA, which has regulatory oversight of all human gene therapy clinical trials. In addition, NIH-funded human gene therapy research remains subject to the usual NIH oversight that applies to all NIH-funded research, and oversight by local authorities such as Institutional Review Boards and Institutional Biosafety Committees.
In August 2018, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a joint proposal to streamline duplicative and burdensome oversight over gene therapy. As part of this effort and following public input, NIH today released the amended NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. The amendments remove the requirement to register and report on human gene therapy protocols under the NIH Guidelines to the NIH. Robust oversight continues under the FDA, which has regulatory oversight of all human gene therapy clinical trials. In addition, NIH-funded human gene therapy research remains subject to the usual NIH oversight that applies to all NIH-funded research, and oversight by local authorities such as Institutional Review Boards and Institutional Biosafety Committees.
Novartis Says Baby's Death May Be Tied to Gene Therapy
Posted on: 24 April 2019, source: Bloomberg
Novartis AG said the death of a six-month-old baby in a study evaluating its experimental gene therapy Zolgensma was considered by the clinical trial investigator to be potentially related to the treatment. The death of the patient with a devastating disease known as spinal muscular atrophy occurred in a late-stage trial in Europe that’s still enrolling patients, the Swiss drugmaker said in an emailed statement. Initial findings show it involved a severe respiratory infection followed by neurological complications. The results of an autopsy are pending, and details have been reported to regulators, the company said.
Novartis AG said the death of a six-month-old baby in a study evaluating its experimental gene therapy Zolgensma was considered by the clinical trial investigator to be potentially related to the treatment. The death of the patient with a devastating disease known as spinal muscular atrophy occurred in a late-stage trial in Europe that’s still enrolling patients, the Swiss drugmaker said in an emailed statement. Initial findings show it involved a severe respiratory infection followed by neurological complications. The results of an autopsy are pending, and details have been reported to regulators, the company said.
First gene therapy to treat rare blood disease nears European approval
Posted on: 2 April 2019, source: STATnews
The first gene therapy to treat a rare blood disorder is one step closer to approval Friday following a recommendation by European officials. Lentiglobin, the gene therapy for beta-thalassemia developed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Bluebird Bio, was recommended for approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the drug-reviewing arm of the European Medicines Agency. A final approval decision is expected within the next three months.
The first gene therapy to treat a rare blood disorder is one step closer to approval Friday following a recommendation by European officials. Lentiglobin, the gene therapy for beta-thalassemia developed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Bluebird Bio, was recommended for approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the drug-reviewing arm of the European Medicines Agency. A final approval decision is expected within the next three months.
Should gene therapy patients be asked to pay?
Posted on: 28 March 2019, source: evaluate.com
The price in value-based payment deals should by definition be justified, so why is patient cost-sharing part of the calculation? Spark covers this cost, but there is no guarantee that all gene therapy companies will. As Novartis’s gene therapy Zolgensma nears a US FDA decision, the sector has only a vague idea of how much the Swiss group will charge for the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment, other than it will be a number followed by six zeroes. Just as importantly, the families with children suffering from this fatal condition do not know what, if anything, they will be asked to pay. However, there are some clues from the way in which the first US-approved gene therapy, Spark Therapeutics’ Luxturna, was financed.
The price in value-based payment deals should by definition be justified, so why is patient cost-sharing part of the calculation? Spark covers this cost, but there is no guarantee that all gene therapy companies will. As Novartis’s gene therapy Zolgensma nears a US FDA decision, the sector has only a vague idea of how much the Swiss group will charge for the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment, other than it will be a number followed by six zeroes. Just as importantly, the families with children suffering from this fatal condition do not know what, if anything, they will be asked to pay. However, there are some clues from the way in which the first US-approved gene therapy, Spark Therapeutics’ Luxturna, was financed.
New Gene Therapy Shows Promise For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Posted on: 9 March 2019, source: CBS News
An experimental and innovative type of gene therapy is being used to attempt to cure sickle cell anemia. The director of the National Institutes of Health says the results of an NIH clinical trial on a gene therapy for sickle cell anemia "looks like a cure" for the painful and often deadly genetic disease that affects 100,000 Americans, with nearly all being African Americans. 60 Minutes follows the trial for more than a year, focusing on a Florida woman who now appears to be rid of sickle cell anemia. Dr. Jon LaPook's report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
An experimental and innovative type of gene therapy is being used to attempt to cure sickle cell anemia. The director of the National Institutes of Health says the results of an NIH clinical trial on a gene therapy for sickle cell anemia "looks like a cure" for the painful and often deadly genetic disease that affects 100,000 Americans, with nearly all being African Americans. 60 Minutes follows the trial for more than a year, focusing on a Florida woman who now appears to be rid of sickle cell anemia. Dr. Jon LaPook's report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Gene Therapy Drug Approval to Skyrocket by 2025
Posted on: 16 January 2019, source: FDA
The FDA expects to approve 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy products a year within the next six years, and is hiring 50 more clinical reviewers to make it happen, the agency announced Jan. 15: "The FDA is witnessing a surge of cell and gene therapy products entering early development, evidenced by a large upswing in the number of investigational new drug (IND) applications. Based on this activity, we anticipate that the number of product approvals for cell and gene therapies will grow in the coming years, reflecting significant scientific advancement and the clinical promise of these new innovations."
The FDA expects to approve 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy products a year within the next six years, and is hiring 50 more clinical reviewers to make it happen, the agency announced Jan. 15: "The FDA is witnessing a surge of cell and gene therapy products entering early development, evidenced by a large upswing in the number of investigational new drug (IND) applications. Based on this activity, we anticipate that the number of product approvals for cell and gene therapies will grow in the coming years, reflecting significant scientific advancement and the clinical promise of these new innovations."
Gene Therapy News
- Bluebird Bio Stock Falls as Sales of Gene Therapy Are Delayed. - Barron's
Fri, 14 Jun 2019 20:00 GMT - Bluebird's gene therapy will cost $1.8 million. Cue the price debate - STAT
Fri, 14 Jun 2019 12:03 GMT - Gene-Therapy Firm UniQure Explores Options Including Sale - Yahoo Finance
Sun, 16 Jun 2019 13:51 GMT - Is $1.8 Million for bluebird bio's New Gene Therapy Ridiculous? - Fox Business
Sat, 15 Jun 2019 21:00 GMT - How will we pay for potentially curative gene therapies? - STAT
Wed, 12 Jun 2019 08:46 GMT
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You can buy a unique research paper online on gene therapy topics here.